PhD alum Sarah Childress appointed to Nashville Mayor’s Office of Entertainment

Aug. 7, 2026—Sarah Childress, a PhD from the Vanderbilt Department of English, has been appointed by the Mayor Freddie O’Connell to be Executive Director of the Nashville Office of Entertainment. She will begin her new role at the end of August.The office is tasked with promoting the local creative industry and supporting its workers and businesses. Sarah...

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Adam Ross joins Vanderbilt English as writer in residence

Aug. 4, 2026—Vanderbilt University’s Department of English and Creative Writing Program is delighted to welcome novelist and short story writer Adam Ross as a writer in residence for the Fall 2026 semester. He is the author of Playworld, a coming-of-age novel which follows 14-year-old Griffin Hurt in 1980s Manhattan. It was named one of the best books...

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Poet Jane Huffman awarded 2026 VU Literary Prize

Aug. 4, 2026—Dilemma, by Jane Huffman, has been selected as the 2026 winner of the Vanderbilt University Literary Prize. The prize, which is awarded to the sole author of a full-length poetry collection, reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to discovering new voices and supporting the arts as transformative and essential to society. The recognition includes the publication...

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See Our Calendar

Aug. 6, 2025—Check out our department calendar for academic deadlines and upcoming events!

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